Yule Break

"I was expecting something big and dramatic..." James said as he was led back to the Castle by Dorea, Regina following beside him, "I wanted to see explosions and fiendfyre, instead I got the singing charm and a backward pointing hand..."

"James, let me ask you something? If the Headmaster and Professor Fawkes had used deadly spells, which one would you have liked to see break through the barricade and hit me?" Regina asked coolly, "The spells weren't inherently dangerous because they weren't trying to kill each other. There was a barricade to prevent spells from going too far, but I'd point out that both men are incredibly powerful...if they had penetrated the barrier accidentally how many people could have died?"

"But you're-"

"Absolutely right Regina." Dorea said interrupting James before turning and looking at her nephew, "James, I've seen the sorts of spells that you wished to see out there. Merlin willing, I will never see them again." James looked down and Dorea placed a hand on his shoulder, "I understand that you wanted to see something exciting...but there's a difference between exciting and deadly...ideally you want the one that traumatizes the fewest children."

"I'm sorry Aunt Dorea..." James said before looking at Regina, "I wouldn't want any spells to hit you, Reggie..." James wasn't willing to think about why the idea of Regina being hurt bothered him so much. He was aware, of course, that seeing anyone actually die wasn't something that he actually wanted to see, but somehow the idea of Regina being hurt, even slightly bothered him greatly.

Regina looked at him for a moment, "Don't think I'm not going to hit you for calling me 'Reggie'. I am, but later, not when your aunt is right here." She grabbed his hand as they walked inside, "Don't get any ideas, Potter. This is just a handy way to keep track of you."

Dorea watched them as she slowed her pace and let them go ahead. A plan was forming as she watched her nephew walk alongside the auburn haired girl. "James, do not forget that we need another guest for our table at the wedding. Since Sirius will be at the Black table, why don't you ask Regina here?"

"It's...alright.." Regina said softly, taking her hand from James', "I'm not really a party girl..." She didn't turn back, "I'll see you after the break Potter, happy early Christmas.." She trudged down the Hall towards the stairs that led to the Dungeons, leaving them.

"James, why don't you go and pack your things? I'll be along shortly, I need to see to something." Dorea said before leaving him to go gather his things.

Scene Break

Sirius and Lily were slower in making their way into the Castle. Harry had asked him to stay back, after a brief conversation, he walked back to Lily's side. "He wants me to be one of his groomsmen," Sirius told her as they walked back up the path.

"Really? Why?" Lily asked him, curious, "Surely he'd want someone more his age..." She thought for a moment, "Is it because of his status as Regent Black?"

Sirius shrugged, "Search me..." He wasn't sure why he had been asked either. Surely, Sirius thought, He's got other people he could ask...

Lily decided to take advantage of Sirius' still somewhat stunned state and reached for him, "Alright, I will!" Her fingers worked against his side, tickling him, "I don't see anything here, maybe here!" Her fingers moved higher, causing him to laugh. Sirius moved to catch her hands, but the two fell into the snowy grass, Sirius taking the brunt of the fall.

Their eyes locked on each other and all Sirius could do was kiss her. She returned it, Sirius smiled into the kiss. It wasn't the precursor to anything physical, nothing more serious than their arms going around each other. "Lily? Will you come with me to the wedding?" Sirius asked her, his eyes never leaving hers.

"I- of...of course I will. I don't have any formal robes...but I have a nice dress my mother got me for Easter...will that be alright?" She asked him. Lily had never been to a fancy occasion in the wizarding world. She knew that most well-to-do families had formal robes, but the Evans family wasn't the most upwardly mobile, hopefully, the dress she had would work.

"It'll be fine, I'll ask Bellatrix if she can pick you up, will that be alright?" Sirius asked as they started to stand up, brushing snow off each other. Lily nodded her assent and the two of them made their way into the Castle.

Two former best friends and their dates going to a wedding. The girlfriend of one is the unrequited love of the other. Harry, sitting in his office finishing up the last bit of work he had before he and Narcissa left Hogwarts for Pounds House for the last time as Harry Fawkes and Narcissa Black, felt a cold shiver go down his spine. "What's wrong?" Bellatrix asked from her seat, "You look like someone just walked over your grave..."

"I don't know," Harry admitted, "I just got this feeling of imminent peril."

Scene Break

Dorea caught up with Regina before she made it all the way to the Slytherin Common Room, "Will you take me inside? I haven't seen my old Common Room in more years than I want to think about. I wonder if the graffiti Violetta and I scrawled in the fifth year girls bedroom is still there..." Dorea said to Regina.

"If you'd like..." Regina said as she walked up to the door and gave the password, "Serpentes Frigus," and then led the older woman inside, "I doubt it's changed much since you were here. Hogwarts has a very 'medieval castle and by Mab, we're going to stay that way' feel about it."

Dorea smiled, "True, but it did serve as a handy way for me to get you alone. Do you wish to go with James to the wedding?" Dorea asked the younger girl, "I would be happy to pick you up if you'd like..."

"I...it doesn't matter. My part of the Parkinson family is muggle. I can't afford formal robes and I don't have any dresses at home. My family can barely afford to send me here." Regina said, "James is...better than I thought, but your family is rich. People know me and they know I'm not...they'll just think I'm with him for the free stuff."

"And you'd know the truth. He would know the truth. Do you honestly think that James would care if we bought your gown?" Dorea asked, a gray eyebrow raised in question. When Regina was silent, she continued, "You, my dear, will be accompanying me to Madam Malkin's during the break."

"He doesn't want me. He wants Evans. I'm just supposed to make her jealous." Regina admitted, "When he makes me laugh, he's doing it for her." Regina hated this fact. She hated the fact that she did like James. "All that will happen is he'll use this to make sure that Evans sees him in his formal robes."

"I've seen how he looks at you. You seem to claim that he only has eyes for another girl. But I saw the look when you asked him about which lethal spell he'd rather hit you. He didn't make a joke. The idea scared him. He might have it in his head that he cares about her, but fear makes us all show our honest selves." Dorea smiled at the younger girl, "So, what will it be?" A challenging note colored the voice of the woman, "Will you let another girl win before you've even tried?"

Regina Parkinson was no coward. She'd faced the scorn of the 'acceptable' Parkinson's from the first day she'd stepped foot in Hogwarts. When Dorea Potter made her final question, it rankled her. "Fine. I'll be waiting for you. My family lives in Surrey at Number Six Churchbell street, Guildford." Regina said, her chin going up, "But if Potter steps on my toes once, I promise you'll be short a nephew."

Dorea kept her victorious look internal, "I'm sure that James will be careful." James has been in dance lessons since he was six...just you wait.. Dora thought as she made her way out of the Common Room, just as Alexandra walked inside.

"What was she doing in here?" Alexandra asked the younger girl.

Regina looked at the fifth-year, "She wanted to know if the graffiti she and a friend wrote was still in your dorm." She watched Alexandra's eyes widen slightly, "I take it that it is?"

Alexandra nodded, "Holy shit. That's who wrote that? Oh, I've got to tell Jane..." She grinned, "I wonder if it's true..."

"What?" Regina asked, an eager note touching her voice.

Alexandra turned and went to the door, "You'll have to wait until your fifth-year..." With that, she turned and left Regina alone in the Common Room.

Scene Break

Jane and Remus were among the last to reach the Castle. She had lingered with Remus, enjoying sitting with him as the others milled out towards the Castle, Remus looked as if he had something on his mind and Jane was curious, but she didn't press.

"So...Sirius' cousin will be getting married to Professor Fawkes during the break. He's invited me...and a guest to sit at his table." Remus said after a time, "Would you be my guest?"

Jane smiled and took his hand, "Inviting me to a wedding? Ooh this is serious," Jane teased him lightly, "I'd love to, Remus." She kissed his cheek, "It'll be good practice..."

"Practice?" Remus asked her.

Jane's smile turned into a full grin at that, "Why, for our wedding of course." She giggled at the reddening face of Remus Lupin, "Not yet. I'll take a page from Ma and Da and wait until you've graduated..." She said pulling him in tight, "Unless you're a good dancer, then I'll slip you an aging potion and take you to a muggle all night chapel at Liverpool."

Remus looked horrified at the idea of being married so young, a look at Jane found incredibly funny. In truth, it wasn't the idea of being married at twelve that scared him. It was being married period. The risk of passing on his curse. Or of hurting her one night.

"Jane...I need to tell you something. Only the Professors and my best friends know it. I...I'm a werewolf. You should probably find someone that doesn't turn into a monster every full moon." He admitted quietly, moving from her, "I..I can go to the wedding by myself."

Suddenly there was a weight like an iron chain around him. Jane had put both arms around him, drawing him against her in a fierce hug, "You listen to me Remus Lupin, and you listen good. You are stuck with me. So you turn into a monster once a month, you haven't seen me when I forget my potion." She said, "At least with yours we know when to expect it. Full moon, every time, it's nice and easy."

Remus didn't know what to do at this moment. Ever since he was attacked, he'd always felt wrong...his survival had meant the near ruin of his family. But he remembered his detention with Professor Fawkes, He thought I could be strong enough to do the right thing, even if it wasn't the easy thing... He hugged back, "If...if you are sure. But promise me something, if there's a full moon and we can't get apart quick enough, the change usually takes about thirty seconds to a minute...if you can't run or apparate...stunning doesn't work, you'll have to kill me."

"Kill you?" Jane said in a horrified whisper, "Remus, I'm not going to kill you." She drew in a breath and continued, " We studied werewolves in Defense this year. You're only a danger to humans. I can study to become an animagus like McGonagall...if we're out on a full moon together, then I'll just become a wolf myself. After all, 'Jane Lupin' is just another way to say 'Jane the Wolf'..."

Animagus' aren't threatened...I have to tell the others. James and Sirius might still be sulking, but this is huge! Remus thought as he hugged his girlfriend.

Scene Break

Narcissa sat in her room, everything was packed and she was ready for Harry to collect her for the trip. I can't believe we have to use the Express instead of traveling by floo or even apparation... She groused as she looked into her mirror. I suppose it is nice that this is my final time on the train as Narcissa Black. Narcissa Fawkes is far better than Narcissa Malfoy...

From time to time, Narcissa wondered about Lucius. Not out of any sort of misplaced fondness, but out of regret for the Narcissa that Harry had known before. She pitied that woman, of the three Black sisters, best friends since we were born, none of us made it out alive...Bella was lost to madness and rage, Andi lost her husband, her daughter, her grandson, and her life struggling against the man I served, and then there was me...trapped in a marriage to an odious man...

She knew that this time, things would be different. For better or worse, Narcissa would never kneel at the feet of Voldemort. She, with her husband and sisters at her side, would bring hellfire upon him. Perhaps they would die, but they would never be slaves.

The door opened and Harry entered with Bellatrix at his side. He crossed the room and kissed Narcissa, "Are you ready?" He asked her.

"I am. Is everything prepared for our trip on the Express?" Narcissa asked him, returning the kiss and rising to walk with him and her eldest sister.

"All my course work is graded and everything is secured in my office," Harry replied offering his arm to his fiancee as the trio left her room for the stairs.

"How was your practice session with Norrey?" Harry asked Bellatrix as they descended the stairs.

"She is a talented witch, just like you remembered. I think she's sweet on Avery." Bellatrix said, "After class, they were in the Courtyard studying together."

"Iris Norrey and Johanna Avery? Maybe it'll be good for them." He mused as they turned the corner on the next hallway. "Her sister, Imoen, that was the one who ended up being a Death Eater."

"It's strange, she doesn't seem the type." Narcissa mused, "In Care of Magical Creatures, she's always the first one to find something cute about any beast Kettleburn brings out."

"I think she was under the Imperius curse." Harry admitted, his voice soft as they came to the doorway leading out of the Castle, "That was how he filled his ranks, capturing random wizards and putting them under compulsion spells. It made it harder to fight when we didn't know if someone was innocent or not."

"Compulsion charms are hard to fight, but if you pay attention they can be detected." Narcissa said, "Professor Trevyan said that it's all in the eyes."

"Makes me wish I'd actually graduated Hogwarts." Harry said, "Still, I led a war against the most powerful dark wizard in the world with a fifth-years education and mentoring by former graduates...I think I've done alright so far."

"We'll need to discuss your status with the Unspeakable then," Bellatrix said, "Status is everything. You are becoming a known entity in our society, they'll need to get you some credentials."

"That can wait until after the ceremony," Harry said as they found Sirius and Lily waiting for them. "Hello, Miss Evans..." He said in greeting.

"Hello Professor," Lily said, "Sirius wanted to ask if you could collect me for the wedding, Mrs. Fawkes."

Bellatrix looked from the second-year to her cousin and then to Harry, "I suppose. You'll need to tell me where I'll be coming." She broke from Harry's arm and looked at Sirius with a glimmer of humor in her wide violet eyes, "A muggleborn sitting at the Black table? Oh, Sirius, you are going to have fun upsetting the family aren't you?"

Sirius smirked, "You know it Bella. The only relations that won't be ready to take their own names off the Tapestry will be Uncle Alphard and maybe Aunt Dorea and Aunt Cedrella."

"Cedrella?" Harry asked, "I don't know her."

Narcissa spoke then, "I'm not terribly surprised, before you removed Orion, she was, along with Uncle Alphard, probably the next to be blasted from the family Tapestry. She married Septimus Weasley."

"Will the Weasley's be showing up?" Harry asked, "The guest list is in your side of the family's hands after all."

"Septimus will most likely not show up, he's been in poor health. Great Aunt Cedrella will though along with her youngest son Arthur and his family." Bellatrix said to him, "To spread out the attendees, I've put the more renegade Blacks and their families on your side. The Weasleys, the Prewetts, and the Potters."

"Don't tell me it'll be more than Aunt Dorea and Uncle Charlus..." Sirius said despondently, "James is going to be there too isn't he?"

"I am. What of it?" James Potters voice came from behind them, he stood there with Dorea and Regina, "We received an invitation just like anyone else connected to the family."

"Sirius, please..." Lily said, taking his hand, "Don't start a fight, not here." She said softly, her eyes going to his. As gray met green, Sirius felt his temper easing. Lily sensed most of the battle was won, "Thank you." Lily said softly, squeezing his hand.

He turned back to James, "Nothing is wrong with it. It..it'll be good to see you at our table." Sirius said, "It wouldn't be a social event if Sirius and James didn't make fun of everyone under our breath."

James smiled at Sirius for the first time in what felt like ages. Beside them, their respective dates for the party looked at each other, "Will you be attending Regina?" Lily asked the other auburn haired girl.

"I will. Lady Potter is taking me dress shopping later for it..." She looked at Lily, "You are welcome to come with us if you'd like..." She turned to Dorea, "If that is alright.."

"That is fine," Dorea said, "Sirius is family just like James. I need to get you both prepared for if your dates get fresh after all." She smiled teasingly to James and Sirius, "Perhaps a localized sticking charm to keep them on the edge of their seats?"

This time a cold shiver of terror ran through James and Sirius rather than Harry.